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MLA David Eby takes delivery of a 200-name petition from Abbey Clancy, right, and other students at his office ain Vancouver in April 2015, opposing a proposed thermal-coal export facility in B.C.Ric Ernst/ PNG

But Clark’s provincial-election campaign move — one that she touted during Wednesday’s televised leaders debate — has invigorated environmentalists who have been fighting expansion of U.S. thermal-coal exports to Asia through B.C. for several years.

Their most-recent target has been the Australia-based Macquarie Group’s $15-million coal terminal at Fraser Surrey Docks over climate change, pollution and health concerns.

“She said (thermal coal) is the dirtiest fossil fuel … It’s a big deal. It’s a game-changer in terms of political debate about thermal-coal exports in B.C.,” Kevin Washbrook, Voters Taking Action on Climate Change (VTACC) spokesman, said Thursday of the wording in Clark’s letter.

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“How can she possibly walk this back and say at some point, ‘Well, it’s not that big of a deal?’ ” he said, calling her move bold and courageous.

Added Dogwood Initiative coal-campaigner Ariel Ross: “This is a great opportunity for all the parties to join the 21st century and close the chapter on this dying industry.”

American Midwest coal-producers have increasingly looked to B.C. as an outlet for their thermal coal, used to produce electricity, because U.S. West Coast export terminals have been rejected or withdrawn.

The Fraser Surrey Docks terminal, approved in 2014, hasn’t moved ahead while VTACC leads a Federal Court fight challenging Port Metro Vancouver’s approval. The case is scheduled over three days starting May 17. Opponents signed onto the challenge include the City of Surrey, City of New Westminster, and the Communities and Coal Society.

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In her letter to Trudeau, Clark said thermal coal isn’t good for the environment and is the most carbon-dioxide-intensive form of conventional fossil-fuel energy production. She said she hadn’t pressed the issue before because friends and trading partners co-operate.

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It also pits the Liberal leader against business interests that normally are supportive of her party. Surrey Fraser Docks and the Macquarie Group have donated more than $35,000 to the Liberals in the past decade. Most U.S. thermal coal now moves through Tsawwassen’s Westshore Terminals, which also backed the Liberals with donations of $28,000. B.C. billionaire Jimmy Pattison, a major shareholder of Westshore, has contributed through his companies more than $283,000 in the past decade, according to a Postmedia News analysis published earlier.

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Westshore, whose shares dropped about 12 per cent after Clark’s announcement, about a $200-million, total-stock value loss, condemned the call for a thermal-coal export ban from B.C. ports.

In a letter to Trudeau, signed by Westshore chairman Williams Stinson and vice-president Glenn Dudar, the firm said it was deeply disappointed in Clark’s move.

“We recognize that Canada is in a dispute with our most important trading partner, but we hope that our leaders will consider the best interest of all Canadians and not punish Canadian companies and workers by putting one industry ahead of another,” said Westshore. The company noted U.S. thermal coal accounted for one third of its business: 100 jobs and $100 million in annual revenue.

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The Westshore letter received support from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The United Steelworkers, supporters of the NDP, have also been backers of the coal terminal at Fraser Surrey Docks.

Clark and NDP Leader John Horgan continued to spar on the trade file Thursday. Horgan said he saw no reason that B.C., in retaliation, couldn’t put a tax on log exports to the U.S. He also questioned whether Clark had left a potential deal on the table under former U.S. president Barack Obama’s administration.

Clark said the deal that the Obama administration was offering would have cut lumber exports by one-third. “No self-respecting premier or prime minister would have accepted that,” she said.

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